Things to Do in Jackson

The state-of-the-art equipment, convenient amenities, and variety of exercise classes at Courthouse Racquet & Fitness's six locations earned the club several of Jackson Free Press's Urban Living awards in 2011 and 2012, including Best Fitness Center/Gym and Best Yoga Instructor. Visit the flagship Lakeland location to swim in a pool of professional athletic proportions. Explore the 13,000-square-foot Madison 51 facility's yoga, spin, and boot-camp classes or the Northeast center's indoor and outdoor tennis courts.

The newest location in Brandon boasts more than 100 treadmills, elliptical machines, rowers, and other pieces of cardio equipment. Women can take advantage of the Downtown site's ladies-only cardio area. Three locations offer childcare, and the Byram facility has launched an afterschool program, where kids can do arts and crafts and engage in healthy physical activities in an environment devoid of teddy-bear drill instructors.

As youngsters, Charles and Talamieka Brice experienced the world through drawing. While his life revolved around comic heroes such as Batman and The Hulk, hers hinged on doodling family members and teachers rather than biting their likenesses out of hunks of cheese. When the pair met in art classes at Jackson State University, what began as a friendly rivalry quickly transformed into a rewarding romantic and artistic partnership. Now married, the award-winning illustrators, photographers, and graphic designers use their talent to craft work for individuals and corporations equally adeptly. They capture striking images of families, kids, and weddings from behind the lens, which they preserve as prints, images burned onto discs, or customized hand-drawn portraits. Their skills extend to pet portraits, watercolor and oil paintings, and sculpture. Additionally, their graphic designs have professionalized the look of corporate brochures, logos, and catalogs.

Debi Lewis was overjoyed when yoga began to ease her chronic back pain, but she didn’t expect it to transform her life. Each style of the art that she learned became an ingredient in her signature yoga recipe, a blend of movement and meditation known as Joyflow. Debi and her staff leverage their certifications to teach this creation during basics and alignment classes accessible to students of all skill levels, their focus on form building a foundation as sturdy as Paul Bunyan’s exoskeleton. Strength and flexibility flourish as the yoga experts lead groups through rehearsals of ancient poses and relaxing stretches. Experienced yoga therapists also guide the body through assisted poses and deep-breathing exercises during relaxation and sculpt sessions.

Artist Melanie John's bright, colorful studio and retail shop surrounds visitors with her vibrant watercolor portraits and textured abstract paintings. Paintings, photos, and pottery also line the walls, inviting gazes to linger over aesthetically elegant pieces and check every design for hidden Magic Eye patterns. BYOB art classes help beginners and master palette wielders create their own masterpieces while sipping on toted-along beverages or purchasing tipples from the bar-licensed studio.

Head Master Park and the staff at Martial Arts Academy help students find a path of total lifestyle wellness, building their physical strength and character during tae kwon do classes. Having been awarded the Presidential Sports Award and taught in England, Korea, and the United States, Head Master Park possesses the know-how to lead students of all ages, experience levels, and body types. In his classes, he teaches students valuable self-defense and martial-arts techniques while instilling the tenets of the martial-arts way: respect, self-confidence, and discipline. Martial Arts Academy follows 10 distinct teaching principles that include aspects such as staying faithful to friends, respecting elders, and celebrating every life milestone by breaking a board in half.

The Bounce Palace's two rooms of massive inflatables accommodate up to 55 youngsters, from toddlers to 12-year-olds. Once inside, children can hop inside a bounce house adorned in primary colors, explore an ocean-themed inflatable adorned with inflated dolphins, and send Jane Goodall fan mail from the monkey cage. Bright-yellow walls surround each bounding visitor with pictures of kid-friendly favorites such as Batman, Spider-Man, and Disney princesses. Along with inflatable entertainment, The Bounce House's two party rooms host celebrations that the birthday child and adult guests attend for free.